Power-driven rotary brush

ABSTRACT

A portable, hand held, power driven machine having two rotary brushes detachably mounted on a housing in which a reversible electric motor is disposed. The brushes are driven by a gearing system disposed in a mounting member on which they are arrayed. The bristles of the brushes are arranged in either spiral or linear rows and intermesh for efficiency and compactness. Flexible mounting clips detachably secure the mounting member to the housing.

Unite States Paiene 1191 1111 3,813,720 Sylvie 1 June 4, 1974 154] POWER-DRIVEN ROTARY BRUSH 2,583,886 1/1952 Schlegel 15/23 2,7( 9 Y 1 1 1 3,122,231 11.2. 3:1 .11. FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [73] Ass'gnee' Arthur 366,472 2/1963 Switzerland /23 [22] Filed: Dec. 4, 1972 [21] Appl 312,072 Primary ExaminerEdward L. Roberts Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Allison C. Collard Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 192.125, Oct. 26, [57] ABSTRACT 1971, abandoned.

A portable, hand held, power driven machme havmg [52] US. Cl. 15/23 two rotary brushes detachably mounted On a housing 51 Im. c1 A46b 13/02 in which a reversible electric motor is diSPOSed- The [58] Field of Search 15/22, 23, 24, 28,29, brushes are driven by a gearing System disposed in a 15/97 310/50 mounting member on which they are arrayed. The bristles of the brushes are arranged in either spiral or [56] References Cited linear rows and intermesh for efficiency and compact- UNITED STATES PATENTS ness. Flexible mounting clips detachably secure the mounting member to the housing. 2,124,145 7/1938 Merke1,.lr. 15/23 2,275,247 3/1942 Cavanagh 15/23 9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures i I -11 i0 i 13 ,12 H is n l 2 a 32 r W 2 if} J 5 l 22 21 I POWER-DRIVEN ROTARY BRUSH This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 192,125 filed on Oct. 26, 1971 now abandoned.

The present invention relates to power driven brushes and in particular to a portable, power driven, hand held machine having two rotary brushes mounted thereon.

The polishing of shoes manually is a tedious and tiring process and, accordingly, conventional power driven rotary brushes have been devised to provide a means of polishing these objects. Such brushes, however, have numerous disadvantages which limit their use. For example, the brush of the conventional device is generally set at right angles to the direction of motor rotation, providing support-at only one end of the brush shaft. This method of mounting is weak and unnatural for the shining of shoes. It lacks sturdiness, power and efficient polishing action. In regard to those machines having multiple brushes rotating parallel to the motor shaft, the brushes do not intermesh, leaving wide valleys between the brushes, making the polishing action bouncy" and making the machine large and cumbersome. Because only the tips of the bristles extend below the body of the machine, they offer little resistance to the weight of the machine causing it to touch and mar the part already polished. These machines may also disperse dust particles and polish over the person using the machine.

It is therefore desirable to provide a sturdy, efficient and powerful means for polishing shoes and other ob jects. Accordingly, the present invention provides power driven rotary brushes which overcome all of the above objections. The machine comprises a housing in which a reversible motor is rigidly mounted. A drive gear is attached to the end of the output shaft of the electric motor for transmitting power therefrom. Rotary brushes having rows of spiral or linear intermeshing bristles are rotatably mounted on shafts secured in a rigid mounting member with bronze or ball bearings. Spiral rows of bristles are preferable because of their constantly changing brushing pattern. It is desirable to have brush rotation inward so that side movement is neutralized, however, for objects or shoes with laces or pendant ornaments outward rotation is provided by the reversing switch to prevent them from being drawn into the brushes. Brush drive gears are attached to the ends of the shafts in a gear housing provided in the rigid mounting member, and are coupled to the motor drive gear by a plurality of idler gears rotatably mounted on shafts within the gear housing. Flexible clips secured on the housing engage the rigid mounting member and detachably secure the mounting member and the brushes on the housing. An external switch is provided on the housing for reversing the polarity of the electrical voltage coupled to. the motor, thereby permitting reversal of the direction of the motor and the brushes.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a sturdy, powerful, compact machine, with inward rotation of the two brushes to prevent side movement or walking of the machine.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a power driven polishing brush which requires minimum effort during the polishing operation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide power-driven rotary brushes in which the housing 2 thereof is detachable from the rotary brush driving mechanism and mounting apparatus.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide power-driven rotary brushes which cannot accidentally damage the object being polished.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide power-driven rotary brushes whose brushes are rapidly interchangeable to the color of polish used.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide power-driven rotary brushes which are particularly useful for polishing shoes, boots and the like, and which is simple in design, easy to manufacture, and efficient and reliable in operation.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which disclose the embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood that the drawings are designed for the purposes of illustration only, are are not intended as a definition of the limits and scope of the invention disclosed.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar reference numerals denote similar elements throughout the several views:

FIG. I is an exploded, perspective view of powerdriven rotary brushes constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the brushes taken along section 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of one end of the rotary brushes taken along section 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an end view of the rotary brushes, taken along section 44 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, there are shown a power-driven, rotary brushes comprising a housing 10 in which a reversible electric motor 11 is mounted. A drive gear 12 is mounted on the end of electric motor shaft 13 and extends outwardly within a dome-shaped end member 14 integrally formed with the housing. An external switch 15 is mounted on the housing and is coupled to the electrical power supply (not shown) for the motor, for reversing the polarity of the voltage coupled to the motor and thereby reversing its direction. Each side of housing 10 has a concave recess 16 which permits the user to easily grasp the brush.

A pair of rotatable intermeshing brushes 17, having bristles l8 and each mounted on a cylindrical shaft 19 are mounted on a rigid U-shaped mounting member 20. The core material of brush 17 is preferably constructed of a plastic or synthetic fiber material so that shafts 19 may be reduced in size and shape from the brush core 17, to a suitable diameter for the attaching of gears. The shaping may be knurled, hexagonal or square so that rotation of the gear will turn the core shaft and the brush. Bristles 18 are disposed in a spiral or linear arrangement longitudinally along the length of shafts 19. The spiral brush arrangement provides better polishing action. The brush spirals are intermeshed so as to minimize the valley between the two brushes and to make the machine more compact. Shafts 19 are disposed in ball or bronze bearings 21 mounted in mounting member 20. One end of each of shafts 19 extends inwardly into a gear housing 22 in the mounting member, over which a drive gear 23 is slidably disposed. A plurality of longitudinal ridges 24 or square or hexagonal shapes engage corresponding recesses or shafts in the drive gears so as to prevent rotational movement of the drive gears with respect to shafts 19. The other end of mounting member 20 opposite gear housing 22 is secured by suitable fastening means, illustrated as bolts 25, disposed through detachable end 26 of member 20 for securing it thereon. End 26 of member 20 is removable so as to facilitate changing of brushes 17, if desired.

A plurality of cylindrical mounting shafts 27 are integrally formed with the mounting member within gear housing 22 thereof. ldler gears 28 are rotatably disposed on bearings 29 disposed on the shafts and engage drive gears 23 and 12, for coupling shaft 13 of motor 11 to brushes 17. Gear housing 22 of mounting member 20 is provided with the removable cover 30 secured on the mounting member by suitable fastening means, illustrated as bolts 31. Flexible mounting means, shown as a pair of U-shaped clips 32, or a planar rigid plate 33, having downwardly extending flexible end members 34, are attached to the bottom of housing for securing mounting member thereon. Suitable recesses 35 are provided in mounting member 20 for receiving the downwardly extending members of the clip and plate. Each of the downwardly extending members includes curved projections 36 which engage the mounting member and detachably secure it on the housing. Either plate 33 or clips 32 may be used to secure mounting member 20 on housing 10. The housing is also provided with an aperture 37 in the lower surface thereof, and an abutment member 38 is integrally formed with the housing adjacent aperture 37. The end of gear housing 22 is received by aperture 37, member 38 representing streamlining, is shown for esthetic reasons only. Clips 32, or plate 33 if used, are secured to housing 10 by suitable fastening means, illustrated as bolts 39. These bolts engage the top of mounting member 20 when it is secured on the housing by clips 32 or plate 33. It should be noted that although a pair of brushes have been illustrated, either one, or more than two, brushes may be utilized.

In operation, switch 15 is moved from its off position to its "on position. Motor 11 is then coupled to the power source, is energized, and rotates drive gear 12. The motor drive gear rotates idler gears 28 and drives brushes 17 by meansof brush drive gears 23. When switch 15 is in its *on" position, brushes l7 rotate inwardly towards each other. Wnen the switch is disposed in its reverse" position, the polarity of the voltage applied to motor 11 changes, and as a result, brushes [7 are rotated outwardly with respect to each other. This feature is especially important since the inward rotation of the brushes provides zero side movement of the machine while it is applied to a shoe surface area. The outward rotation of the brushes prevents shoe laces or other loose objects attached to the object being brushed from being drawn into and entangled in the brushes.

In actual usage of the machine and contrary to what might be assumed, its proper use is in holding it with its rotating axes and length parallel to the side of the shoe, moving the machine with a back and forth stroking motion similar to the use of an ordinary shoe brush, the brushes rotating at right angles to the motion. Because of this method of usage inward rotation of the brushes to hold the machine steady on. the shoe is extremely important. This rotation is only foreclosed when laces are present that may be drawn into the machine.

To disassemble the brush, mounting member 20 is pulled from clips 32 (or plate 33). Another mounting member having a different number of brushes, or a different type of brush, may be then slidably inserted in clips 32 and secured on housing 10 in place of the previously used brushes, thus enabling immediate use of the different brushes. If the brushes on the mounting member are desired to be changed or removed, bolts 25 are removed and end 26 detached from the mounting member. Shaft 19 is then slidably removed from the ball bearings in end 26. Bolts 31 are then removed from gear housing 22, and cover 30 detached, so as to expose gears 23 on shafts 19. The gears are slidably pulled off the ends of shaft 19, which then may be slidably pulled through ball bearings 21 in gear housing 22. The reverse procedure is followed in order to remount the brushes in the mounting member.

While only several embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those persons skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

l claim:

1. A power-driven rotary brush comprising:

an elongated housing including an access aperture formed at one end thereof;

an electric motor disposed and mounted within said housing and having an output shaft disposed ad jacent said access aperture;

a mounting member;

at least one flexible clip member secured to said housing and having a plurality of downwardly extending parallel legs for engaging said mounting member and detachably securing said member to said housing;

a gear housing integrally formed with said mounting member and disposed at one end thereof, one end of said gear housing being slidably disposable in said access aperture of said housing;

a plurality of gears rotatably mounted in said gear housing and coupled to said output shaft of said motor; and,

at least one rotatable brush coupled to said gears and having radially or linearly disposed bristles, said at least one brush being pivotably mounted on said mounting member so that said at least one brush rotates in response to movement of said output shaft of said motor.

2. The brush as recited in claim 1, wherein said downwardly extending legs include curved members, integrally formed therewith for engaging said mounting member and securing said member to said housing.

3. The brush as recited in claim 2, wherein said gear housing includes a plurality of shafts, integrally formed with said gear housing and stationary with respect thereto, for supporting said gears in said gear housing.

4. The brush as recited in claim 1, wherein said gear housing includes a detachable cover, for enclosing said gears in said gear housing.

5. The brush as recited in claim 1 wherein said mounting member includes a detachable plate demountably secured at the end opposite said gear housing for supporting an end of said at least one brush, said plate being detachable from said mounting member to permit removal of said at least one brush.

8. The brush as recited in claim 1, wherein said housing further comprises a plurality of recesses, disposed on opposite sides thereof, for gripping said housing.

9. The brush as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one brush includes radially disposed bristles disposed in a linear arrangement longitudinally along the length of said at least one brush. 

1. A power-driven rotary brush comprising: an elongated housing including an access aperture formed at one end thereof; an electric motor disposed and mounted within said housing and having an output shaft disposed adjacent said access aperture; a mounting member; at least one flexible clip member secured to said housing and having a plurality of downwardly extending parallel legs for engaging said mounting member and detachably securing said member to said housing; a gear housing integrally formed with said mounting member and disposed at one end thereof, one end of said gear housing being slidably disposable in said access aperture of said housing; a plurality of gears rotatably mounted in said gear housing and coupled to said output shaft of said motor; and, at least one rotatable brush coupled to said gears and having radially or linearly disposed bristles, said at least one brush being pivotably mounted on said mounting member so that said at least one brush rotates in response to movement of said output shaft of said motor.
 2. The brush as recited in claim 1, wherein said downwardly extending legs include curved members, integrally formed therewith for engaging said mounting member and securing said member to said housing.
 3. The brush as recited in claim 2, wherein said gear housing includes a plurality of shafts, integrally formed with said gear housing and stationary with respect thereto, for supporting said gears in said gear housing.
 4. The brush as recited in claim 1, wherein said gear housing includes a detachable cover, for enclosing said gears in said gear housing.
 5. The brush as recited in claim 1 wherein said mounting member includes a detachable plate demountably secured at the end opposite said gear housing for supporting an end of said at least one brush, said plate being detachable from said mounting member to permit removal of said at least one brush.
 6. The brush as recited in claim 1, further comprising an electrical switch mounted on said housing for reversing said motor and the direction of rotation of said at least one brush.
 7. The brush as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one brush includes radially disposed bristles disposed in a spiral arrangement longitudinally along the length of said at least one brush.
 8. The brush as recited in claim 1, wherein said housing further comprises a plurality of recesses, disposed on opposite sides thereof, for gripping said housing.
 9. The brush as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one brush includes radially disposed bristles disposed in a linear arrangement longitudinally along the length of said at least one brush. 